By: Michelle Huang

With only two months left in the year,  2026 is coming to an end.  As the year wraps up, so does everyone’s Spotify playlists. Here are (in no particular order) the top 10 songs of 2026 according to me and backed up by no credible charts:

PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – “Stateside (Remix)”

You can always expect a banger from PinkPatheress, and Stateside (the remix) is no exception.  Fun fact: Olympic Gold medalist Alysa Liu skated to this song during the 2026 Olympic Figure Skating Olympic Gala!  This electro-pop, UK-garage style song features Zara Larsson singing the viral verse “I’ve been touring stateside…”, and ending with both Larsson and PinkPatheress closing the song with the catchy chorus.

Olivia Rodrigo – “The Cure” 

The eighth track on her most recent album, “The Cure” begins with a soft and lyrical beginning before building up to an explosive final chorus. This song’s central imagery takes place in a hospital setting, leaning into the core themes of mental health and “cures” that have no effect on the root of the issue. Let her cook.

Drake – “Shabang”

Arguably the most deep and meaningful song on this list, “Shabang” gives us one of the most powerful lyrical stories of 2026. This catchy tune begins with a declaration of wealth “Yeah, Ice” before dropping rhymes, beats, and flow. “All of my opps, they dead. Why do they gas me up? Where does it go? My head (mama). How much I got? A lot.” Drake demonstrates his versatility with his clever rhyme scheme. Not only can he rhyme alternately, but also internally. This type of ingeniousness is exactly why Drake is the GOAT.

ADÉLA – “Nicole Kidman”

A rising superstar, Adéla has no misses when it comes to her singles.  The hit single pays homage to the iconic Nicole Kidman , with the imagery in the music video drawing inspiration from several of her movies. The vocals are light and airy while the pop track is high-energy and  feel-good with the right amount of crass that Adéla is known for.

HolottaCheese – “BFF4L” 

The perfect tune for you and your twin, “BFF4L” is perfect for ride or die friendships. The hardcore opening and transition to the grating vocals may be offputting at first, but once you hear the feminist, empowering lyrics, you may want to give it a second chance. “Drop that body off, girl, let’s get our nails done. Let’s get ’em slimed out while we’re on vacation . Yeah, we locked in, friendship bracelet…”.  While these lyrics may bring a tear to your eye, you might not want to venture further, as it will get quite vulgar.

Tame Impala – “Dracula”

Dracula with or without the remix featuring JENNIE is a banger. From the same artist who wrote “Loser” for the recent Spiderman movie,  Tame Impala just keeps winning. The disco, electropop single has a heavy bassline and a clear vocal. With Halloween just around the corner, it’s prime time to keep this song on repeat.

Olivia Rodrigo (feat. Chappell Roan)  – “expectations”

Who knew Olivia Rodrigo made remixes now? This collaboration with Chappell Roan mixes the two unique vocalists. Chappell Roan’s queer twist on the verse and chorus presents a new perspective on the song that combined with Olivia, makes the song palatable for everyone. The last chorus ends powerfully with Chappell Roan’s iconic  vocalization and Olivia Rodrigo’s upbeat singing.

PinkPantheress – “Girl Like Me”

Pinkpantheress’s song, “Girl Like Me” features a bouncy instrumental and top tier vocals. 10/10 would recommend. 

 CORTIS – “REDRED”

CORTIS is a Korean boy band that debuted just over a year ago. Fun fact: the intro spells out “red red” in morse code.  Additionally, the choreographed dance pairs well with the song.  Highly recommend anyone who isn’t familiar with CORTIS to check out their discography.